After more than a decade on the mound, 2017 All-Star and World Series champion Alex Wood has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball.
The 34-year-old left-hander shared the news on social media, posting a heartfelt letter alongside a highlight reel of his career. Wood, who began his MLB journey with the Atlanta Braves in 2013, went on to pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, and most recently the Oakland Athletics.
“Today, with immense gratitude, I am announcing my retirement from Major League Baseball,” Wood wrote. “For over half my life, every decision I’ve made has centered around how it would impact my baseball career. I’ve given every ounce of myself in pursuit of my lifelong dream of becoming a big leaguer. Playing 12 years in the show, reaching 7 postseasons, winning a World Series, and earning an All-Star selection — I never could’ve imagined it would turn out this way.”
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Wood’s biggest career moment came in 2020, when he started Game 6 of the World Series for the Dodgers in their 3-1 championship-clinching win over the Tampa Bay Rays. That victory capped a season in which Los Angeles finally broke a 32-year title drought.
Last season, Wood pitched for Oakland, appearing in nine games with a 1-3 record and a 5.26 ERA. Injuries played a role in his decision to step away from the game, but his letter made clear that his love for baseball remains as strong as ever.
“Baseball was my first love. Outside of God and my family, nothing else has shaped me the way this game has,” Wood said. He went on to thank his teammates, coaches, and staff across all five organizations he played for, adding, “I always aimed to be the best teammate I could be and to build up those around me. If my teammates remember one thing about me, I hope it’s that.”
Wood also shared his appreciation for the people closest to him — especially his parents, wife, and children. “To my parents — there’s no world where I’d be here without you. You’re the bedrock of my life and career,” he wrote, closing with a personal message to his wife and young sons.
Drafted by Atlanta in the second round of the 2012 MLB June Amateur Draft, Wood finishes his career with a World Series ring, an All-Star appearance, and the respect of teammates and fans alike — a legacy built on both performance and character.
